Apparatus for hair waving



June 30, 1942.

A. M. PONIATOFF 2,288,369

APPARATUS FOR HAIR WAVING Filed March 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ALEXANDER M PON/A TOFF.

ATTORNEY June 30, 19.42.

A. M. PONIATOFF 2,288,369

APPARATUS FOR HAIR WAVING Filed March 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. A L ExA NDER M PON/A TOFF A TTORNE Y Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR HAIR WAVING Alexander M. Poniatofi', Redwood City, Calif.

Application March 7, 1939, Serial No. 260,345

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the art of treating hair and is more particularly directed to an improved method and apparatus for producing What is commonly referred to as a permanent wave of the hair on the human head.

In the generally practiced method of hair waving, the hair, after being treated with a softening solution, is divided into strands or tresses and each strand is wound upon a curler spindle and placed under some tension and then wrapped with a moisture pad and an outer impervious cover, usually of metallic foil, sufiicient heat then being applied to effect the curl or wave.

When the heat is to be generated electrically, a heater embodying electrical heating elements is placed over the wrapped hair and is supplied with electrical energy through suitable circuits. Usually the circuits of the heating elements are provided with manually or thermostatically operated switches by means of which the flow of electrical energy to the heater may be controlled to govern the generated heat. For proper permanent waving it is necessary to effect vaporization of the solution Within a reasonable length of time in order to prevent drying out of the solution before such vaporization is effected. Thus, it is the usual practice to set thermostatically controlled electric heaters to at least 300 F., while electric heaters without thermostatic control usually reach a temperature of approximately 500 F. As these temepratures will, after all the solution is vaporized, produce a dry heat injurious to human hair, the operator is expected to limit the heating time relative to the amount and kind of solution employed. However, since dependence is placed upon the judgment and alertness of the operator, even where thermostats are employed, there is always present the danger of serious burning of the hair and oftentimes the head as well. In fact, it is well known that quite a few serious accidents of this nature have occurred in the past few years. The various thermostatic arrangements which have been proposed to eliminate this danger are not considered entirely successful in that they are quite liable to get out of order and add considerably to the cost of the apparatus.

It has been proposed to generate the required heat by electrolytic conduction, in which case the hair is wound upon a curler spindle and wrapped with a pad comprising an inner perforated foil electrode, an outer imperforate foil electrode and an intermediate sheet of absorbent material impregnated with an electrolytic iii solution capable of conducting sufiicient elect'ricity to produce enough heat to effect the desired wave. Such pads having foil electrodes will not withstand repeated wrapping around the wound hair strands and the circuit leads to the electrodes oifer added difficulties rendering speedy manipulation impossible.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus of the electrolytic type in which no wrapping of the wound hair strand by a pad, by foil, or by other material is required and in which the electrolytic heating means is in the form of a cartridge adapted for insertion in a heating chamber in which is also disposed the curler spindle carrying only the wound strand of hair, said spindle being positioned so that the hair will be out of contact with the heating means and will be subjected to such heat, steam and hot vapors as may be liberated thereby.

The invention is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an embodiment of the present invention, partly broken away to more clearly show the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line II--II of Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, similar in character to Fig. 1, showing a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line VI-VI of Fi 5.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section through a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through a fifth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line XX of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the formation of the electrolytic cartridge used in the device shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the clamping and hair winding curler spindle employed in each of the five illustrated embodiments of the present invention,

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 10 of the accompanying drawings, the hair clamping means which supports the waving apparatus and grips the hair strand closely adjacent the human head comprises two opposed longitudinal clamping members l and II, each having a hair-gripping jaw l2 providing a resilient hair-gripping surface preferably formed of rubber and a scalp .protecting pad l3 preferably formed of felt. These clamping members are pivotally connected at I4 to have a scissor-like opening and closing movement, the free ends thereof being provided with cooperating means (not shown) by which they may be locked together in closed position. The top plate of the clamping member I I is, at its opposite ends, bent upwardly to provide upright end walls which support the curler spindle I6 and are vertically notched to receive the respective trunnions of said spindle, at least one of said trunnions being square in cross-section to prevent rotation of the spindle when seated in said notches and both trunnions being provided with knobs IT by which the curler spindle may be manipulated. The curler spindle l6 has'a curling surface which is a hyperboloid of revolution with its larger diameter at its ends and pivoted at one end to said curling surface is a clamping finger I8 (see Fig. 9) arranged to lie closely adjacent the curling surface of the spindle to enable the end of a strand of hair to be clamped to the spindle at the beginning of the hair winding operation.

In the practice of my invention, the hair, treated with the proper softening solution, is divided into strands and each strand adjacent the scalp is clamped between the two clamping members [0 and I l of a clamping device of the character above described, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer end of the hair strand is engaged on the curler spindle I6 beneath the clamping tongue l8 and the spindle is turned by the operator to wind the strand upon said spindle which an upper elongated and substantially cylindrical heater chamber B and a lower similar treating chamber C, said chambers being arranged in parallelism and in direct communication with each other through an elongated opening D between them. Although these chambers are herein separately referred to and have been designated by different reference characters, this has been done primarily for the purpose of presenting a clear description of the preferred construction, it being obvious that functionally said chambers in fact constitute a single heating chamber in which the curler spindle and the heating element are disposed in spaced relationship.

The casing A is formed of two complemental halfsections dividing said casing longitudinally in a vertical plane intersecting the axes of the two chambers, and said sections are longitudinally hinged together at their adjacent upper edges, as shown at 2|, while the opposed edges of the end walls of said sections are provided with semi-circular notches which match, when the housing is closed, to form circular-openings for accommodating the end portions of the curler spindle l6. Semi-circular bushings 22,

\ side walls of the respective casing sections.

preferably of rubber, are secured in said semi circular notches and are adapted to embrace the curler spindle l6 when the casing A is disposed thereon, while the opposed lower longitudinal edges or clamping lips of the casing sections are provided with resilient pads 23 so that said lips will not injure the hair.

The casing sections are preferably formed of pressed sheet metal or molded Bakelite, or other suitable material having suflicient strength and rigidity, and are urged to closed positions by a clevis-shaped leaf spring 24 which embraces their upper portions and which has hooked lower ends positioned in indents or slots formed in the The respective casing sections are provided with upwardly and outwardly projecting handles 25 whereby the two sections may be transversely spread apart for application over the curler spindle IE to enclose the wound hair strand in the lower treating chamber C of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2.

Disposed in the upper heater chamber B are two opposed longitudinal contact bars 26, each of which is of arcuate cross-sectional contour and is carried by one of the casing sections, these contact bars being so disposed as to be substantially concentric with the axis of the heater chamber when the two casing sections are closed. Each of these contact bars 26 is electrically insulated from the respective casing section by a sheet 21 of insulating material and is secured thereto by a suitable rivet 28 and a terminal stud 29 passing through insulating bushings in the casing wall, the terminal studs 29 of both casing sections extending outside the heater unit for connection to suitable circuit wires 30. It will be obvious that if the casing sections are formed of Bakelite orlike material, it will not be necessary to insulate the contact bars 26.

The electrolytic heating element E is in the form of an elongated cylindrical cartridge and will be clamped between the opposed contact bars 26 when the two casing sections are closed. Said heating element is formed of absorbent material, such as felt, flannel or other absorbent fibrous material, or it may be formed of an absorbent granular material enclosed in a foraminous baglike covering. However, for durability and for economy of manufacture, it is preferable to construct said element of a sheet of absorbent cloth spirally rolled to cylindrical form.

Prior to the application of the heater unit on the curler spindle to enclose the wound hair strand, the heating element E will be saturated with an electrolytic solution, and with the saturated heating element engaged by the contact bars 25 in the closed casing as shown in Fig. 2, passage of electric current through the electrolyte will generate enough heat to effect a socalled permanent wave of the hair wound upon the curler spindle, such production of heat causing a steaming and vaporization of the electrolytic solution until its electrical conductivity is reduced to a point which will automatically break the circuit and interrupt the current flow.

When the heating cartridge E is formed only of absorbent material, it will be placed in a receptacle containing the electrolytic solution for a suflicient length of time to become saturated therewith, and then removed from the solution and slightly compressed to squeeze out excess solution which would otherwise be inclined to drip from the cartridge, or the saturated cartridge may be allowed to drain until danger of such dripping is eliminated.

If desired, the active ingredients of the electrolyte in dry form may be initially incorporated in the heating cartridge E at the time of its manufacture, and the cartridge saturated with water prior to its use.

Also, the heating cartridge may be saturated with various electrolytic solutions capable of producing vapors of known hair waving value, such as a solution of ammonia or an ammonium salt.

With the heater unit engaged on the curler spindle in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hair strand wound on the spindle will have no direct contact with the heating element and since said hair strand is devoid of any external wrappings it will be directly subjected to the radiated heat and the hot vapor produced by the vaporization of the moisture content of the heater element. As the heating function is dependent upon the moisture present in the heating element and as the electric heat producing circuit is automatically broken with the evaporation of this moisture, it follows that the maximum temperature involved in the hair waving operation will be approximately 212 R, which temperature is known to be the most effective temperature for producing the desired wave Without detrimental effect to the hair.

Obviously since the heating element and the hair on the curler spindle are maintained in the heating chamber in spaced relationship, there can be no burning of the hair, and since the produced heat cannot exceed a safe maximum, overheating of the hair is effectively eliminated.

The heater unit is preferably left on the curler spindle until approximately cool, at which time the hair will have taken the desired wave. The heater unit is then removed by gripping the handles and spreading the casing sections apart and lifting said unit from engagement with the curler spindle which is then unwound and detached from the hair strand, the wave then be ing ready for setting.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a second embodiment in which the casing A is integrally formed of resilient vulcanized rubber and each end wall thereof is provided with a circular opening 22a adapted to receive the respective end of the curler spindle l6 and is centrally divided below said opening to define the two cp-- posed clamping lips 23a and to permit transverse flexing of the casing and an opening separation of said clamping lips for the purpose of applying the heating unit to the curler spindle and removing said unit therefrom.

Such manipulation of the casing is effected by opposed rigid jaw sections 3|, preferably of stamped sheet metal, formed to embrace the lower portion of the flexible casing A with their lower longitudinal edges engaged in and secured to the respective clamping lips 23a of said casing. At opposite ends of the casing A above the respective openings 22a, transversely disposed ears 32 project inwardly from the respective jaw sections 3! and are pivotally connected at 2m to hingedly unite said jaw sections. Ma-

nipulating handles 25a are preferably formed integral with the respective jaw sections 3| and clevis-shaped closing leaf springs 24a embrace the upper portion of the casing with their lower ends engaged in indents or slots formed in the respective jaw sections below the hinge connections 2Ia.

Opposed longitudinal contact bars 26a are disposed in transversely spaced relationship within the heater chamber B and are secured to the opposite walls thereof by rivets 28a and by terminal studs 29a which extend outside the casing for connection to the circuit wires 30, each contact bar being vertically flat and preferably provided with inturned upper edges and outwardly flared lower edges, as shown in Fig. 4.

The heating element or cartridge E is similar in character to the heating element E previously described, and in preparing this heating unit for use, the handles 250. will be pinched together to open the rubber casing A to a degree sufficient to permit insertion of the moistened cartridge E between the then separated clamping lips 23a and through the lower treating chamber C and the intermediate opening D said cartridge being pressed into place between the opposed contact bars 26a.

The hair waving method above described will then be carried forward by applying this heating unit to the curler spindle S6 in the same manner before explained in connection with the heating unit shown in Figs, 1 and 2.

In Figs. o 6 there is shown a third embcdim nt in which the electrolytic heating cartridge E is inserted longitudinally through an opening in the end wall of the heating chamber. In this structure the casing A comprises an upper rigid hollow housing 33 forming the elonheater chamber B having the opening 5 communicating with the lower treating chamoer C which is formed by two complemental casing sections 52% providing longitudinal clamping lips. each of which carries a resilient pad The upper longitudinal edge of each of the casing sections 29b is turned inwardly to provide hinge iiange 2255 which engages in a companion groove formed in the upper housing member the sections thus being hingedly connected with said housing member in a manner permitting them to be spread apart by a pinching together of the manipulating handles 25b, clevis leaf springs similar to those previously described, being provided to close said casing sections. Similar to the structure shown in Figs. .1. and 2, the end walls of the opposed pivoted casisections 2% are provided with matching semi circular notches and semi-circular rubber bushings 2221) which embrace the end portions of the curler spindle i5 when the heating unit is applied thereto.

Concentrically disposed within the heater chamber B is an elongated outer contact plate iii?) of tubular form, open on its lower side to permit heat and vapor to pass into the lower chamber C This contact plate is rigidly secured to the wall of the housing member 33 by a rivet and a terminal stud Eiib and is insulated therefrom by suitable insulation 2%. An elongated inner contact rod Ed is axially disposed in the heater chamber B and is rigidly mounted in one end wall of the housing member and is suitably insulated therefrom, as shown in 5, current being supplied to the two terrninais and by wires 33. The opposite end wall of the housing member 33 is provided with an opening through which the heating cartridge may be inserted into the heater chamber.

The electrolytic heating cartridge E employed with this form of heating unit is similar to the cartridges and E excepting that it has a metallic cap at one end to facilitate handling thereof, particularly its removal from the heater chamber, and except that it is formed with an axial hole to receive the contact rod 34.

In practice, this form of heating unit is applied to the curler spindle in the same manner as are the previously described heating units, and the heating element or cartridge E will be inserted in the opening 35 to engage within the contact plate 261) and'over the contact rod 34 in' the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The fourth embodiment disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings is similar in all respects to the heating unit illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 excepting that the heating element or cartridge E is not intentionally provided with an axial contact receiving hole, and excepting that the two opposed contact plates 260 are of the same character as the contact plates 26 employed in the heating unit of Figs. 1 and 2, each of the plates 260 being secured within the heater chamber B by a rivet 28c and by a terminal stud 29c, and being insulated from the housing member 330 by suitable insulation 210, the two terminal studs 25c extending outside the heater unit for connection to the circuit wires 30.

In the use of this form of heating unit the heating element or cartridge E will be inserted through the opening 35c to engage between the two arcuate contact plates 260.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 there is disclosed a fifth embodiment of the invention, in which I employ the same general casing construction as is employed in the previously described device of Figs. 3 and 4, excepting that different contact members are used to condition the apparatus to receive a modified type of heating element or cartridge E. In this embodiment the rubber heater casing A is provided with two longitudinally spaced spring contact fingers 26d which are disposed within the heater chamber B and secured to the upper wall thereof by rivets 28d and by terminal studs 29d which extend through said Wall to the exterior for connection with the circuit wires 30.

The electrolytic element or cartridge E is inserted in the heater chamber B in the same manner as the cartridge E is inserted in the heating unit illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. However, in the present instance the cartridge E will be disposed in the heater chamber B so that each of its ends engage one of the spring contact fingers 2601, as shown in Fig. 9.

The heating cartridge E is formed of an outer metallic foil electrode 40, an inner metallic foil electrode 4|, an intermediate sheet of absorbent material 42 and an inner sheet of absorbent ma terial 43. As will be observed from an examination of Fig. 11, the several layers, before being rolled to cylindrical form, are positioned in staggered relationship with the outer foil 40 offset in one direction relative to the absorbent sheets 42 and 43 and with the inner foil 4| offset in the opposite direction in relation thereto. This oiiset relationship is necessary to prevent shortcircuiting between the two foil electrodes.

After the several sheets of material are rolled to cylindrical form the foil projecting at each end beyond the absorbent material will be crimped radially and pressed to form more or less compact metallic ends which will be engaged by the respective spring contact fingers when the cartridge is placed in the heating unit.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for waving hair in a manner eliminating the necessity of any wrapping of the Wound hair strand with foil or other material, and in which the Wound hair strand is enclosed in a heating and steaming chamber out of contact with the heating means employed so as to be subjected to hot vapors generated by the heating means, with the heating means being of an electrolytic character capable of producing only suificient heat to vaporize the moisture content thereof, all of which effectively eliminates any danger of overheating or burning the hair and provides an automatic heat control not dependent upon the judgment and alertness of the operator.

While I have shown the preferred embodiments of my apparatus, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hair Waving apparatus comprising a heater unit including a hollow casing consisting of a substantially rigid housing forming a heater chamber and a pair of complemental casing sections forming a treating chamber communicating with said heater chamber, said casing sections being hingedly mounted for transverse separation to open said treating chamber for the insertion of a curler spindle, opposed electric contact members disposed in said heater chamber and provided with terminals projecting throu h the housing wall for connection with electric circuit wires, and an electrolytic heater element adapted for insertion in the heater chamber through an opening in the wall of said housing to engage said contact members, one of said electric contact members being a rod axially aligned with said opening, and the electrolytic heater element having an axial hole therein into which said rod engages.

2. A hair waving apparatus comprising a heater unit including a hollow casing consisting of a substantially rigid housing forming a heater chamber and a pair of complemental casing sections forming a treating chamber communicating with said heater chamber, said casing sections being hingedly mounted for transverse separation to open said treating chamber for the insertion of a curler spindle, opposed electric contact members disposed in said heater chamber and provided with terminals projecting through the housing Wall for connection with electric circuit wires, and an electrolytic absorbent heating cartridge adapted for insertion in the heater chamber through an opening in the wall of said housing to engage said contact members, said cartridge being provided at one end with a rigid flanged cap limiting its insertion in said housing.

ALEXANDER M. PONIATOFF. 

